Mission: Motherhood

She cleared her throat. “In any event, my mother says that Amanda has been more mischievous than usual, and Josie more withdrawn, although she’s always been the shyer of the two. Ms. Alpert—”

“Call me Sarah, please.” The teacher reached across the desk to press her hand. “We all know each other here, and your mother and I have often worked on church suppers together.”

“Yes, she said that she knew you. She wanted me to mention to you that Josie will follow wherever Amanda leads, even if it’s into trouble.”

Sarah smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind. I know your mother is very relieved to have you here to take over with the children. You are staying, aren’t you?”

Did everyone think that? She supposed she owed the teacher an answer, even if she didn’t owe one to Steve Windham.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be here. My career is in New York.” That sounded sufficiently vague, when the truth was that she longed to get back to her own life, even though duty demanded that she be here for the moment, at least.

“You might find something to do here in Prairie Springs,” Sarah suggested. “I know it isn’t really my business to interfere, but I’m concerned about the children. They’ve been through a rough time, and it would be a shame to uproot them at this point.”

It was impossible to take offense at Sarah’s comments, given the warmth and concern that shimmered in her blue eyes. And she’d brought up a good point—one that Caitlyn hadn’t really considered. Caitlyn’s original plan had been to take a month’s leave, help her mother and the children recover from their grief and see them settled financially, and then get back to her own life.

That plan had seemed reasonable back in New York, when she was scrambling to get time off work, turn her cases over to someone else and get here in time for the funerals. Now that she was on the spot, things weren’t so clear-cut.

“I can’t practice law here. I’m not licensed in Texas, and I haven’t even considered that. I have to admit, though, that it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to find something part-time to do while I’m here.”

She hadn’t imagined finances would be an issue when she’d taken a leave of absence, but then, she’d never tried to do without her salary before. She hoped she’d be able to continue working on some cases from here, but it had been made clear to her that the clients of Graham, Graham and Welsh expected and would receive personal attention. At least they were willing to hold her position open.

No one could live on her salary in Manhattan, pay off college and law school loans and still have much left over anyway. When she made partner, it would be another story, but in the meantime, her finances were tight. And her mother had given up her job at the gift shop when Carolyn and Dean were deployed to the Middle East.

The twins had the funds that had come to them on their parents’ deaths, of course, but if possible, Mama wanted that put away for their futures.

“You know, I believe I might know just the thing.” Sarah looked pleased at the prospect of helping. She turned to her desk and scribbled something on a piece of paper. “I volunteer at Children of the Day. It’s a local charity that helps victims of war—does wonderful work. As it happens, they’re looking for a care coordinator right now, and I believe the schedule would be flexible. With your legal background, you’d probably be a big asset.”

“I’m not licensed in Texas—” she repeated, but Sarah pressed the paper into her hand.

“Just talk to Anna Terenkov, the director. I’m sure this is all going to work out fine.”

Sarah was a lot more optimistic than she was, since at the moment she didn’t see anything working out fine. Still, if she could get the job, the money would be welcome. Her expenses in New York continued unabated while she kicked her heels in Texas.

Not for long, she reminded herself. She’d do all she could for her mother and the twins, since Carolyn had named her as their guardian, but in the end, her life was back in New York.

Steve worked his way methodically through cleaning up the paintbrushes. He’d volunteered two hours of painting to the elementary school this afternoon, but he had a meeting back on post at four. The group he’d formed to get soldiers to volunteer for community projects was going strong now, and he owed it to the people he’d talked into it to show that he’d be right in there volunteering his own time and effort.

From where he stood, he could see through the windows of the kindergarten room. Amanda and Josie, chestnut heads together, whispered over their papers, while their aunt Caitlyn sat talking with Sarah Alpert.

He worried about the twins, as he worried about all those under his care who had suffered losses. The twins had each other and their grandmother, and now they had their aunt. Was Caitlyn up to the responsibility she’d inherited from her sister?

He studied her, frowning a little. He remembered her well, which was odd in itself since she’d been three years behind him in school. Maybe she’d stood apart because of the fierce ambition she’d shown at an age when most girls were too busy giggling over boys, pop stars and clothes to give much thought to their futures.

Now—well, Caitlyn Villard had grown into a beauty, if you liked women who were sophisticated, even icy. She was tall and slim, carrying herself as if there wasn’t a doubt in her mind as to who she was and where she was headed.

The hair that had once been flaxen was now a rich golden brown, tousled in a way that he suspected was style, not nature. Her eyes hadn’t changed, though. They were a warm hazel with glints of gold when the sun caught them.

Well, the important thing wasn’t how she looked, although she was certainly worth a second glance from any man. What was crucial was whether she could take care of those children.

She’d probably used that single-minded determination of hers that he remembered to take the big city by storm. From what he could see, apparently she’d made it, despite all the obstacles there must have been for a little girl from Texas with no family backing or money.

But now she was faced with even harder barriers in learning how to be a mother to two precious children. Did she have that in her? He didn’t know.

His thoughts automatically went inward in prayer. Lord, You know what You have in mind for Amanda and Josie, and for their aunt. If there’s a way in which I can help, please use me.

When he looked again, the door was opening and Caitlyn and the twins were coming out.

Amanda spotted him first and let out a squeal. She came running toward him, waving a welcome, with Josie scurrying behind.

He bent to hug them, holding them away from his paint stains and grinning at their enthusiastic greeting. “Hey, you two. Y’all been having some fun in the kindergarten room with Miss Sarah?”

“I made a picture and printed my name,” Amanda said importantly. “And I said my numbers, too.”

“How about you, sugar?” He tugged gently at a strand of Josie’s hair. Josie always had to be coaxed a little. “Did you print your name, too?”

She nodded. “I printed Josie,” she said. “Not Josephine.”

“Girls.” Caitlyn had reached them by now, and she clearly didn’t know what to make of this. “What are you doing?”

He smiled at her. “The twins and I are old friends.” He caught Amanda’s hand as she reached for the paint can. “That’s wet, Amanda.”

Amanda pouted for a fraction of a second before turning to her aunt. “We love Chaplain Steve,” she said. “He’s our friend.”

“Chaplain Steve?” Caitlyn’s voice accented the title, and annoyance danced in her eyes. “Are you really a minister?”

He shrugged. “Guilty.”

“You knew I thought you were a painter.” Her lips tightened.

Obviously Caitlyn didn’t like being fooled. “Sorry.” Truth to tell, he felt a little embarrassed that he hadn’t been up front with her. “I did know what you were thinking, but you looked so disapproving I couldn’t resist teasing you just a mite.”

Faint color came up on her cheeks. “I wasn’t disapproving. It’s nothing to me what you do.”

“Come on, now,” he said. “Tell me you weren’t thinking that I’d failed to live up to my potential, like Mrs. Clemente used to say in trigonometry class.”

Josie tugged at his sleeve. “What does potential mean?” She said the word carefully.

“It means doing everything that you’re able to do,” Steve answered.

“Oh.” She seemed to be storing the definition away for possible future use.

“As I recall, your father was a chaplain, wasn’t he?” Caitlyn had herself in hand now, and she asked the question with just the right degree of polite interest.

“That’s right. I guess I could have been assigned most anyplace, but I requested Fort Bonnell, and here I am. I’ve taken over the Fort Bonnell Christian Chapel, but I had to redecorate, since Daddy took all his fishing pictures with him when he and Mama retired to Wyoming.”

“And you know the twins how?” Her voice expressed doubt.

“They’re part of my job, as it happens, ministering to those of our Fort Bonnell community who’ve suffered losses.”